Automobile lock



Apr. 110, 1923.

G. W. DANIELS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 15 1921 INVENTOR G. W. DANIELS AUTOMOBILE LOCK A srfn'nywz'sz Filed July 15, 1921 2 sheos-sheet 2 I wvmma.

George WDameBs lPatented Apr. Mil, l23.

rattan GEORGE WILLIAM DANIELS, F HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

Application filed J'u1y15, 1921. Serial No. 484,990.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE VILLIALL DANIELS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident ofthe city of Hamilton, in the county of ll'entworth, in the Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile locks with particular reference to that type in which the steering wheel of the automobile is locked in order to render the steering mechanism inoperative and the object of the invention is to provide a lock of this general type which'will be small and compact, which may be readily attached to any automobile and which will be of simple and inexpensive construction; a further ob-,

ject is to provide a lockwhich will prevent both rotation andremoval of the steering wheel and a still further object is to so construct the device that it will be absolutely inaccessible and non-removable when in the locked position but will permit ready and convenient access to all parts thereof when in the unlocked position.

My invention consists essentially of a hinged bracket adapted to be rigidly secured so to the stationary steering column of an automobile, 'a,.lock carried in the bracket, a

clamp member having a head portion and a shank depending therefrom, the shank having longitudinal sliding freedom and rotative freedomwithin an orifice in the bracket. the upper portion of the'shank adapted to extend upwardly between adjacent spokes of the wheel, and the head of the clamp adapted to engage the upper faces of said adjacent spokes when in the locking position, the clamp adapted to occupy a position out of operative connection with the steering wheel when in the unlocked position, and the lock in the bracket adapted to engage the shank of the clamp for securing it in the locked position, all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the. accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of the steering wheel and stationary steering column of an automobile, showing my invention applied thereto. the apparatus being in the locked position.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. l). The

full lines indicate the apparatus in the locked ing the various parts of the device in the locked position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4, 4 I

of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5, 5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a cylinder lock used in my invention.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

1 indicates the stationary steering column of an automobile and 2 the rotatable steering post which is carried within the stationary column.

3 is the steering wheel which is rigidly secured to the upper end of the steering post 2 in the usual 'manner by the nut 4 and has a bearing on the upper end of the stationary column 1.

3 3 3 and 3* are the spokes of the steering wheel and 3 is the hub thereof.

5 is a split bracket comprising the two sections 5 and 5 which are hingedly connected by the pin 6. a

The sections 5 and o comprlse the male and female engaging surfaces 7 and 8 respectively.

The bracket 5 is provided with the large orifice 9 therein, said orifice extending partly into each of the sections 5 and 5- of the bracket.

The inner wall of the orifice 9 is provided with a small orifice 10 adapted to receive a dowel pin 11 and the stationary column 1 is also provided with a correspondmg orifice for a purpose as will hereinafter appear.

The edges A and B of the bracket remote from the hinge pin 6 are app roxithe inner end. of the orifice 13 is an orifice tit) i that of a right angle triangle with the shank.

14 of reduced diameter which forms a shoulder 15 at the base of the orifice 13. This orifice 14 extends completely through the section to the male surface 7. i

The section 5 is provided with a threaded orifice 14 extending inwardly from the female surface 8 and adapted to register with the orifice 14 and to form a continuation thereof when the two sections of the bracket 5 are in the closed position (see Fig. 4).

16 is a screw which freely engages the orifices 18 and 14 in the section 5 and has threaded engagement with the orifice .14 in the section 5 The enlarged head 16 of the screw freely engages the orifice 13 while the shank freely engages the reduced size orifice 14. The underrface of the head 16 is adapted to engage the shoulder for a purpose as will appear.

The outer end of the orifice 13 is threaded at17 and 17 is a screw plug adapted to engage. said threaded portion.

18 is a clamping member having the cylindrical shank 18 and the head 18 disposed at right angles to the shank.

Adjacent to its lower end the shank 18 is cut away to form an annular recess'18 for a purpose as will appear.

The upper end of the shank atits point of junction with the head, terminates in an enlarged boss 18*.

The shape of the head 18 is substantially 18 depending from the right angle.

At the two acute angular points of the head are carried depending lugs 18, and the body of thehead itself virtually forms a' web connecting the boss'18 of the shank and lugs l8 between which are formed the upwardlydisposed recesses18.

The long side of the head is cut away at 18 forapurpose aswill appear.

The shank 18 is adapted to freely engage the orifice 12 in the bracket 5.

The section 5 is provided with a large cir-' cular recess 19 extending inwardly from one side-edge thereof and dispo'sedparallel to the side edge A, the axis of the recess in- 1 section 5 which forms a wall between thev trcepting perpendicularly the axis of the orifice12 (see Fig. 3). The recess 19 does notextend as far as the orifice 12 being separated therefrom-by a portion 20 of the recess 19 and the orifice 12.

21 is a small orificeextending through the wall 20 and conneotingthe inner end of the Bfi recess 19.with the orifice12 and is located eccentrically of the recess 19 and below the thereto by therivets 22 5 and provided with the orifice 26 tric stud22 engaging a recess 22 in the bolt.

These features of the lock are of standard design and form no part of my present invention so that it is not thought necessary to describe the lock construction in further detail.

22 is an end sleeved cap which engages the inner end of the casing 22 and is secured.

This sleeve is provided with a cut away portion 22 in its upper side wall to permit passage of the bolt 22 and carries an eccentric stud 22 extending longitudinally from the bottom of the end face.

The junction of the end of the sleeve 22" with the outer peripheral surface of the casing 22 forms a shoulder 22.

The lock 22 is adapted to be inserted into the recess 19 and the outer peripheral surface of the sleeved cap 22 freely engages the surface of the recess.

As the lock is inserted into the recess 19 the stud 22 freely engages the orifice 21, and 24 is a recess in the section 5 which is adapted to receive the bolt 22 when the lock is fully inserted. Also when the lock is fully inserted the stud 22 extends beyond the wall" 20 and into the orifice 12 (see 25 is an annular chamber formed between the casing 22 of the lock and the wall of the .recess 19.

26 is a cover plate secured to the section This plate covers the outer end of the recess 19 and is secured to the section 5 by the screws 26 v 27 is a coil spring located within the annular chamber '25, one end. of which engages the shoulder 22. on the lock and the other end engages the inner face of the cover The two sections 5 and 5 of the bracket 5 are hingedly connected by the hinge pin 6.

and the pin 22 engages the orifice 21 in the wall 20. This locates the casing 22 of the lock against rotation, since the pin 22 is eecentrically situated on the lock and insures that the. bolt 22' of the lock, which has a ;-reciprocatory motion will be maintained in the correct angular relation to engage the orifice 24 in the wall of the recess 19..

The coil spring 25 is next inserted and the.

a cover plate 26 is attached which secures the look against removal.

Itwill be noted that the spring 25 will tend to normally force the lock 22 inwardly into the locked position shown in Fig.

Thedowel pin .11 is now mounted in the bracket 5. 1

- This bracket is mounted upon the stationary steering column 1 by clamping the two sections 5 and 5 'about the column so that the column engages the large orifice .9, the column having been suitably drilled to receive the dowel pin 11' for properly locating the bracket upon the stationary column.

The two sections of the bracket are then fastened together by means of the screw 16 which is inserted into the orifice 13. The head of the screw engages the shoulder 15 in the section 5 of the bracket while the threaded portion engages the threaded orifice 14 in the section 5 lVhen the screw is tightened it will be apparent that the two halves of the bracket are drawn together to tightly clamp the stationary column 1 thus securing the bracket rigidly in position upon the column. I

The screw cap 17 is now inserted to close the outer end of the orifice 13.

I The clamping member 18 is now mounted by inserting the shank 18 into the orifice 12 in the bracket.

Consider now the device to be mounted upon the steering column and the'various parts to be in the locked position with the clamping member 18 engaging the steering wheel for rendering the steering mechanism inoperati ve.- This position is illustrated in Fig. 1 and also in full lines in Fig. 2. and the device detached from the steering column. but withthe parts inthe locked positwo spokes so that the wheel cannot be re-' moved from the steering post. Further the depending lugs 18 prevent rotation *of the clamping membersince they would engage the spokes immediately rotation of the mem: ber'were attempted. It is necessary to provide against rotation of the clamping member 18. when in the locked position, as otherwise it could be rotated through approximately 180 sothat the head thereof would clear the spokes of the wheel thus permitting removal of the wheel from the steering post and the substitution of some other means of steering. I

Inordento still further increase the security of the lock. the head 18 of the clamping member ismade to .cover a considerable 'portion otthe hub of the steering wheel and the boss 1 8 'is provided on its under face.

I By this means the dinner ends of the spokes engaged by the clamp are rendered inaccessible to a cutting tool such as a hack saw or the like.- The valueof. this feature will be readily understood as it is appa-rcut that if it were possible to cut away the spokes of the; wheel to clear the clamping member it would be possible to remove the steering wheel entirely. I

The cut away portion 18 is provided in the head of the clamping member to provide clearance for the nut 4: securing the wheel to the steering post 2.

The clamping member 18 is-locked in the locking position by means of the cylinder lock 22 carried in the bracket 5.

The action of the lock 22 will be clearly understood from the drawings.

Normally, as previously stated. the coil spring 25 will force the lock. which is slidably mounted in the recess 19, into its innermost position (see Fig. 6) in which position the stud 22 extends into. the orilice 12. When theclamping member 18 is in the locking position the annular recess 18? in the shank registers with the orifice 21 so that the stud 22 engages said annular recess and prevents all longitudinal movement of the clamping member.

The lock is locked in this position by turning the rotatable barrel 22 by means of the key 23, so that the bolt 22 engages the orifice 24.

It will now be clear that with the various parts in the locked position. as above described, the device constitutes a perfect lock which renders the steering mechanism entirely inoperative and by locking the steering wheel with the'steering at full lock to one side an extremely efficient; anti-theft device results.

A further valuable. feature'of my invention resides" in the novel construction whereby all vital parts of the device are entirely inaccessible and not subject to interference or damage when the device is in the locked posit-ion.

From Figs. 4 and 5 it will be noted that in the locked position the screw 16 securing the two sections of the bracket 5 together is-entirely inaccessible and is protected by' the full thickness'of the shank 18 of theclamping member. This is made possible by having the stud 22 carried eccentrically nearthe bottom of the cap 22.

Further by the provision pf the male and female engaging faces 7 and 8of the .two sections of the bracket 5 it is rendered impossible to getat the screw 16 to cut it with a cold chisel or to apart.

All exposed partsof the device will in all pry the two sections probability be case hardened to render the cutting or otherwise damaging ofthe parts practically impossible.

The operation of unlocking is asfollows: The bolt 22? is withdrawn from engagement with the recess 24 by rotating the barrel 22 with the key 23 and the, entire lock 22 is then drawn outwardly in the recess 19 against the pressure of the coil spring 25 by simply pulling outwardly with the key. In this operation the stud 22 is withdrawn from engagement with the annular recess 18 in the clampin member, which member is then slightly raised by hand and rotated to clear the spokes of the steering wheel and is then allowed to fall into its inoperative position shown dotted in Fig. 2 in which it has no engagement whatever with the steering wheel.

It will benoted that the lock 22 will at all times tend to move inwardly automatically under the action of the spring 25 so that the stud 22 will be in the locking position and it may only be held withdrawn by holding the lock withdrawn by hand.

The clamping member 18 may, of course, be entirely removed from the bracket 5 if desired when the lock 22 is Withdrawn to the unlocked position.

As previously stated it will be impossible to remove the key from the lock unless the lock 22 is in the locked position since only in this position does the bolt 22 register with the recess 24. .In all other positions it is held depressed by contact with the wall of the recess 19 and the tumblers of the lock cannot move into the'position to permit removal of the key.

It is to be noted that at all times the stud 22 is engaged in the orifice 21, so that no rotation whatever of the casing 22 of the lock 22 can occur and therefore the bolt 22* is always in the correct angular position to engage the recess 24.

Various modifications might be.made in my invention without departing from the spirit-of the invention or the scope of the claims and therefore the forms shown are to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

For instance, the actual shape of the head of the clamping member might be altered, also the annular recess in the shank ofthe clampin member might be replaced by an ordinary orifice.

From the foregoing it will be noted that I have devised an improved automobile lock which will be of great value, which may be simply fitted to any automobile and v which will provide a safe and positive means of preventing unauthorized use of the automobile by rendering the steering mechanism entirely inoperative.

What I claim as my inventionis:

1. In a device of the class described, a clamping member comprising a flat head 1 portion of substantially the shape of a right angle triangle, a shank portion depending from the head portion and situated adjacent to the right angle, the shank provided with an annular recess adjacent to the lower end thereof, an enlarged'boss carried by the having a horizontal recess-extending inwardly from one side edge thereof, a portion of the body member forming a wall separating the recess from the vertical orifice, said wall having a horizontal communicating orifice between the recess and vertical orifice, a clamping member comprising a shank slidably carried .within the vertical orifice, the upper end of theclamping member adapted to engage the steering wheel, the shank having a recess adjacent to its lower end, a locking member slidably mounted within the horizontal recess in the body member, a stud carried by the inner end of the locking member and extending longitudinally therefrom and engaging the aforesaid communicating orifice, spring means normally forcing the lock inwardly to engage the inner end of the recess in which position the stud projects through the communicating orifice into the vertical orifice and is adapted to engage the recess in the shank, and means for withdrawing the locking member and stud to release the engagement between the stud and shank.

3. In a locking device for automobiles, the combination with ajstationary steering column and a steering wheel, of a body member rigidly carried by the stationary column and having a vertical orifice extending therethrough, the body member also having a horizontal recess extending inwardly from one side edge thereof, ,the axes of the vertical orifice and horizontal-recess intersecting each other, a portion of the body member forming a wall separating the recess from the vertical orifice, said wall having a horizontal communicating orifice between the recess and vertical orifice, said communicating orifice located eccentrically of the horizontal recess and below the cen-- tre thereof, a clamping member comprising a shank slidably carried 'within the vertical orifice. the upper end of the clamping member adapted to engage the steering wheel, the shank having an annular recess adjacent to its lower end, a cylinder lock slidably mounted within the horizontal recess in the body member, a transversely reciprocating bolt carried by said lock, the body member provided with a recess in the wall of the horizontal recess, said reciprovertical orifice and is adapted to engage the recess in theshank, and means for withdrawing the cylinder lock to release the engagement between the stud and shank.

4. In a locking device for automobiles,. the combination with a stationary'steering column and a steering wheel, of a split bracket rigidly secured upon the stationary column, said split bracket comprising two sections and having a large orifice in the central part thereof'adapted to engage the stationary column, the two sections being hingedly connected at one side of the large central orifice, male and female engaging surfaces between the two sections at the side of the bracket remote from the hinge connection, a screw within the bracket extending transversely of said male and female engaging surfaces and securing the two sections together, the head of said screw being sunk into the bracket, a clamping member comprising a shank slidably carried within a vertical orifice in the bracket, the upper end of the clamping member adapted to engage the steering wheel, a locking member in the bracket and co-acting with the shank for securing said shank against longitudinal movement, said shank entirely covering I so the head of the aforesaid securing screw when the shank isin the locked position.

5. In a-locking device theconibination' with a stationary steering column and a steering wheel having the usual hub and spokes, of a split bracket rigidly secured upon the stationary column, said split bracket comprising two sections and having a large orifice in the central tionary column, the two sections bein hingedly connected-at one side of the large central' orifice, male and female engaging surfaces between the two sections at the side of the. bracket remote from the hinge connection, a screw within the bracket extending transversely of said male and female engaging surfaces and securing the two sections together, the head of said screw being sunk into the bracket, a clamping member comprising a head portion and a shank portion depending therefrom, said shank portion slidably mounted in a vertical orifice-in the bracket and adaptedto extend v upwardly between two spokes of the wheel and in proximity to the hub therei of, the head portion forming a plate covfor automobiles,

.qering the upper faces ,of said spokes and the adjacent portion of the hub of the wheel, depending lugs carried by the head and engaging the side edges of the aforesaid spokes remote froni the shank, and a locking member in the bracket c'o-acting with the shank for securing said shank against longitudinal movement. said shank entirely covering the head of the aforesaid securing screw whent-he shank is in the locked position.

6. In a device ofthe class described, a split bracket comprising two sections hingedly connected together at .one corner thereof and having a vertical orifice in the central portion thereof, the sections having male and female enga ing surfaces at the side of the central orifice remote from the hinge, the bracket having a second vertical ori ce extending therethrough adjacent to the corner remote from the hinge connection, the bracket having a horizontal orice extending inwardly from one side edge and intersecting the second vertical orifice and'the male and female engaging surfaces,

a screw engaging the horizontal orifice for rigidly securing the two sections of the bracket together, said screw adapted to the entirely to the inner side of the second vertical orifice, the bracket having a horizontal recess extending thereinto from one edge thereof, the axis of said recess intersecting the axis of the second vertical orifice, a

wall separating the recess from the second vertical orifice, said wall provided with a ing the recess and second vertical orifice, said communicating orifice situated eccentrically of the recess. and adjacent to the bottom thereof and being entirely below the first mentioned horizontal orifice, a cyl-' inder lock slidably mounted in the horizontal recess, a stud eccentrically carried by the inner end of the lock and extending longitudinally therefrom, said stud engaging the aforesaid communicating orifice.

v spr ng means normally forcing the lock into part thereof adaptedto engage the its lnnermost position in the recess, in

g which positionthe said stud projects into the second vertical orifice, and means for drawing the lock outwardly to withdraw the stud from the second vertical orifice.

7. In a device of the class described, a split bracket comprising two sections hinged ly connected together at one corner thereof and having a vertical orifice in the central portion thereof, a dowel pin car- I00 horizontal communicating orificeconne'cta ing inwardly from one side edge and intersecting the secondvertical orifice and the male and female engaging surfaces, a screw engaging the horizontal orifice for rigidly securing the two sections of-the bracket together, said screw adapted to lie entirely to the inner side of the second vertical orifice, the bracket having a horizontal recess extending thereinto from one edge thereof, the axis of said recess intersecting the axis of the second vertical orifice, a wall separating the recess from the second vertical orifice, said wall provided with a horizontal communicating orifice connecting the recess and second vertical orifice, said communicating orifice situated eccentrically of the recess and adjacent to the bottom thereof and being entirely belowthe first mentioned horizontal orifice, a cylinder lock slidably mountedin the horizontal recess, a stud eccentrically carried by the inner end of the lock and extending longitudinally therefrom, said stud engaging the aforesaid communicating orifice, a transversely reciprocating bolt carried by said lock, the wall of the recess provided with an orifice adjacent to its inner end,

said bolt adapted to register with and engage said recess when the lock is in its innermost position in the horizontal recess, spring means normally forcing the lock into its'innermost position in the recess in which position the said'stud projects into the second vertical orifice, and means for 

